Agricultural, AIDS Project Design and Evaluation Consultants

MWA International Consulting Experience

MWA International has undertaken consulting work in Australia, The Philippines, Thailand, Burma (now Myanmar), Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, China, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Western Samoa, the Cook Islands, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Our clients have been AusAID, the Asian Development Bank, Food & Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations, The Australian Ombudsman, UNAIDS in Geneva and Beijing. We have in depth knowledge and appreciation of Melanesian cultures.

Our focus has been on agriculture and agricultural extension services, but we have also been engaged by the Asian Development Bank to provide hand-on training courses in post evaluation of projects in a range of countries.

MWA International was engaged to undertake the Agricultural Component of AusAID’s Northern Samar Integrated Rural Development Project in the Philippines between 1972 and 1978. With his MWA International colleague Laurie Sewell, Bob McKillop conceived and implemented the ‘Cooperating Landlord’ strategy that facilitated the introduction of improved rice varieties, farm implements and fertilizer for peasant farmers under a written agreement that defined more equitable sharing of income their rice. The scheme was an outstanding success that significantly enhanced the productivity of the farmers and raised their income. Bob McKillop also undertook two rounds of evaluation and design for the Asian Development Bank’s Northern Luzon Agricultural Project which focused on opening up land for vegetable farmers to grow irrigate vegetable crops for the Manila markets. Bob and his colleague Jon Cook also delivered training courses and undertook post-evaluation activities in the field in the Bicol Region and on Palawan Islands for the Asian Development Bank. Similar training assignments were undertaken in Papua New Guinea and Sri Lanka.

From October 1998, Bob McKillop was engaged by HIVAIDS in Geneva to undertaken three monthly consultancies on the HIV/AIDS crises in Africa, with follow-up visits in 2001 and 2003; then from 2004 following Bob’s colleague Joel Rhenstrom’s transfer to head the UNAIDS office in Beijing, China he undertook three month consultancies there in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008, working with the officials working on China’s HIV/AIDS response to prepares joint Republic China/UNAIDS reports on the achievements in tackling HIV/AIDS during those years. Bob also undertook consulting assignments on the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Papua New Guinea. Bob was also engaged by the New South Wales and Commonwealth Ombudsmen to review the achievements of Ombudsmen in Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, Fiji, Tonga, Western Samoa and the Cook Islands.

Training assignments in the Solomon Islands featured an on-going role in the Project to Strengthen Land Management procedures in that country and the design of a Population Project for the Asian Development Bank; while major assignments in Vanuatu were the Agricultural Extension Strengthening and Training Project and the Vanuatu Cocoa Project on Malaita Island.

In 1978, 1979, 1982 and 1985 Robert McKillop undertook field surveys and monitoring activities for the Burma Dry Zone Village Water Supply Project for Coffee & Partners. This role involved extensive travels to villages and Ministry of Water bases throughout the dry zone to collect data on the effectiveness of the deep wells being constructed and equipped with Australian manufactured Mono pumps, while the 1985 visit was as a member of AusAID Review Team of the Mandalay Dairy Project.

Avail of Our Flagship Consultancy Programs

Over the years, MWA International has undertaken consulting work across a host of countries such as Burma, Thailand, Australia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and many more. Having engaged with domestic clients over the decades, we are particularly aware of and engaged in the contours of Melanesian cultures.

While recognized amongst the leading agricultural project design and evaluation consultants, we at MWA International have extended our services to such clients as AusAID, UNAIDS and HIVAIDS. Engaged by Asian Development Bank, we have been providing training courses in post-appraisal of projects in various countries. In the years 1978, 1979, 1982 and 1985 the firm’s principal consultant, Robert McKillop undertook active field surveys for the Burma Dry Zone Village Water Supply Project for Coffee & Partners and the Mandalay Dairy Development Project for AusAID.

Global Consultancy Projects

Engaged by HIVAIDS in Geneva, Robert undertook three major monthly consultancies on the HIV-AIDs crisis in Africa. Apart from that, he also undertook monthly consultancies for the UNAIDS office in China between 2004 and 2008. Gradually growing to become one of the leading AIDS project design and evaluation specialists in the country, MWA International, under the leadership of Robert McKillop, has worked with a host of reputed clients. He was recruited by the Commonwealth Ombudsman to review its prospects in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. He was a distinguished member of the AusAID review team of the Mandalay Dairy Project.

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Burma Dry Zone scenes: